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FC Schalke 04 have interest in Anderlecht goalkeeper

By Kevin Parvizi

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 22 : Hendrik Van Crombrugge goalkeeper of Anderlecht celebrates during the Jupiler Pro League match between RSC Anderlecht and Krc Genk on December 22, 2019 in Brussels, Belgium, 22/12/2019 ( Photo by Peter De Voecht / Photonews via Getty Images)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 22 : Hendrik Van Crombrugge goalkeeper of Anderlecht celebrates during the Jupiler Pro League match between RSC Anderlecht and Krc Genk on December 22, 2019 in Brussels, Belgium, 22/12/2019 ( Photo by Peter De Voecht / Photonews via Getty Images) /
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FC Schalke 04 are set to lose Alexander Nubel to Bayern Munich at the end of the 2019-2020 season, but if they aren’t interested in playing the 23-year-old at all in the Ruckrunde, then they may need to sign another keeper.

Alexander Nubel will depart for Bayern Munich after the 2019-2020 season ends, making him the latest FC Schalke 04 star to head to Bavaria.

David Wagner has already removed Nubel as team captain and placed the armband around tone-setting defensive midfielder Omar Mascarell, but fans are also hoping he benches the 23-year-old in favor of the equally promising – and younger – Markus Schubert, who was signed this summer as Nubel’s backup/replacement.

If Nubel doesn’t play another game for the rest of the season due to this move to Bayern, then Schalke may be in the market for another goalkeeper. Although they were linked to FC Köln youth keeper Julian Krahl, there is nothing to these links.

However, the Royal Blues have been linked with another goalkeeper in Europe, but this time the keeper plies his trade with a neighboring country.

According to a report from Nieuwsblad, via Schalke Daily, Die Knappen have interest in Hendrik Van Crombrugge of RSC Anderlecht. The 26-year-old is reportedly under contract with the Belgian powerhouse through 2023.

Anderlecht have been anything but a powerhouse this season, though. They are in ninth place despite having one of the league’s biggest stars in Belgium international Nacer Chadli, who leads the club with seven goals.

But Van Crombrugge has been a bright spot. Only former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet, who plays for Club Brugge of Real Madrid-drawing fame, has more clean sheets in the Belgian top flight than Van Crombrugge. And Van Crombrugge is doing this with a team that has less than half the number of wins as Mignolet. In fact, Van Crombrugge is the only keeper with more clean sheets than his team has wins.

These statistics make Van Crombrugge an intriguing option, especially if Schalke want a veteran alongside Schubert. It would make sense for Schalke to continue to target young options, but since they are in the thick of the title race and don’t have a guaranteed Champions League spot, a more experienced option in great form like Van Crombrugge could make sense.

Per Transfermarkt, his valuation is at six million euros, which is the same sum that Schalke received from TSG Hoffenheim to make the Sebastian Rudy loan deal permanent.

Next. Take no prisoners with Alexander Nubel. dark

If Wagner has no interest in keeping the underperforming Ralf Fahrmann long-term, then signing Van Crombrugge could be in the cards. Due to his age and the years remaining on his contract, Van Crombrugge would be more than just a short-term fix to replace Nubel in the squad.

It’s an interesting situation to monitor, even though Van Crombrugge isn’t a name who moves the meter. He’s a solid keeper in his own right, though many fans would prefer a more exciting name or another chance for Fahrmann in 2020-2021.